Pope Francis told the editors of the Jesuit journal Civiltà Cattolica that “your main task isn’t to build walls but bridges”. The Pope encouraged the journalists to influence culture by fostering conversations with those who do not share the faith.

“Through dialogue,” he said, “it is possible to get closer to the truth, which is a gift of God and to enrich one another.” The Pope asked the editors to use their discernment to recognise the movements of the Holy Spirit in world events as “even the Church, when it becomes self-referential, gets sick and old”.

He said the split between the spirit of the Gospel and the norms of popular culture is “a tragedy” and asked the journalists to help the Church repair that breach.

Catholics in Quebec denounce draft law

The Catholic Organisation for Life and Family said it “radically opposes current efforts to camouflage euthanasia – a criminal offence that falls within federal jurisdiction – as ‘medical aid in dying’ in an unjust bill that will bring about dramatic consequences for all Quebecers.

“In countries that have legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide we’ve seen increased depreciation for human life; in the name of efficiency, particularly vulnerable people have been encouraged to ask for euthanasia or to commit suicide.

“This danger is real and likely to increase with the ageing population, the rise in demand for healthcare services and related costs. We must not give anyone the power to kill.”

Cardinal exhorts Catholics in UAE

Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, urged Catholics to preserve their faith. The cardinal was preaching at the cathedral in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a largely Muslim nation of 5.3 million. Eleven per cent are Catholics, mostly Asian immigrant workers.

“Today you cannot be a Christian for the simple reason of being born into a Christian family,” he continued. “This is even more true for you… Every day you have the choice to renew faith, giving priority to God, and overcoming temptations from different cultures,” said Mgr Filoni.

No saints for the euro

According to reports in The New York Times, the European Commission has ordered the National Bank of Slovakia not to mint new euros that would feature images of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

The European Commission decided that the Slovakian design, hailing the 1,150th anniversary of Christianity in Slovakia, violated the principle of religious neutrality.

Joint commemoration of 500th anniversary of the Reformation

Catholics and Lutherans are expected to commemorate to­gether the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Geneva-based Lutheran World Federation have just released a document titled From Conflict to Communion.

The 99-page document looks at the central points of Martin Luther’s call for the reform of the Church, the points addressed later by the Council of Trent and, especially, Vatican Council II and issues that still divide Catholics and Lutherans.

“Luther had no intention of establishing a new Church but was part of a broad and many-faceted desire for reform,” the document said. The document outlined ideas for joint commemorations in 2017 of the publication of Luther’s 95 Theses, usually recognised as the beginning of the Reformation.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)

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